Lucknow: Literally mocking the state government, Nimesh Commission, the Muslim community and a host of activists and NGOs, who questioned the arrest of Khalid Mujahid, former Director General of Police Vikram Singh on Tuesday said that he was proud of arresting him in the 2007 serial blast case.

"I am proud of the fact that under my directions Khalid was arrested. Evidence is there that he was a terrorist," news agency IANS quoted Vikram Singh as saying.

Vikram Singh was responding on the state government's decision to withdraw cases against Khalid Mujahid and other accused, and filing of FIR against the officers who made the arrests.

"In the line of duty, even if one faces 10 such cases to save the country from the scourge of terror, so be it", he said stating that such cases would have an adverse effect on the morale of the state police.

Following the death of Khalid Mujahid, a first information report (FIR) was lodged against 42 police officers, including former DGP Vikram Singh, for conspiring to kill Khalid Mujahid, an accused in the serial blasts of 2007.

Khalid died last week while he was being brought back from a court in Faizabad, about 120 km from here, to a prison in the state capital Lucknow where he was lodged.

The Uttar Pradesh Police had arrested Hakeem Mohammad Tarique Qasmi and Khalid Mujahid in connection with blasts that took place in court premises of Lucknow, Faizabad and Varansi in November 23, 2007.

The Justice RD Nimesh Commission appointed by the Mayawati Government had termed the Police version as doubtful. Based on this the Akhiilesh government had initiated a procedure to withdraw the case.

The investigating agencies are under attack for the shoddy arrest after various terror attack. The recent cases cited are the 2006 Malegaon Blast and Makkah Masjid blast for which the Muslims youths were blamed and arrested. It however later turned out that terrorists associated to right wing Hindu terror outfits were involved in these attacks.

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